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Top Tier Gasoline...

I was scanning through one of the other forums and came across a thread titled "Best gas for E39" and someone posted up a link (which I have included below) which lists all of the Top Tier Gasoline Retailers...

Horsepower: some is good, more is better, TOO MUCH is just right!
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." ~ Mario Andretti
"What’s behind you doesn’t matter." ~ Enzo Ferrari

It's not clear who supports that site, but >>

many manufacturers subscribe to the use of those fuels. They have the additives that car manufacturers are comfortable with.

I'd stay away from those vendors not on the list, esp big box stores, where it's not clear from day to day where they get their fuel. ARCO, et al, can sell more cheaply, since they can specify a minimal additive package at the wholesaler.
Ed in San Jose. BMW CCA member since 1987 (Nr. 62319). Golden Gate Chapter. '97 540i 6 speed. Build Date 3/97. Aspensilber over Aubergine leather.

But is it really better?

Gas stations are, ultimately, run by individual retailers and I've seen evidence that the gas in their tanks is just generic from the distribution network. Given that possibility,

I've noticed the past two years my regular source, USN air station, has gone to E10 and particularly in the colder months mileage goes down significantly. I filled with Shell and it's not down as much.

E10 has about 3% less energy per gallon, so mileage should dip slightly, but does it have some adverse impact when weather turns that results in even lower mpg? Just curious.

I've been using Sunoco (US) 93 octane (m)

for almost the entire life of my 540, some Mobil, and Hess now and then. When I had the intake manifold off last summer to put on the modified one the back side of my intake valves were spotless.
I do use Chevron Techron which should also help keep them clean.
When I was in PA last week I did see some Turkey Hill stations, goofy name.

You'll tend to get poorer mileage in colder>>

weather because the engine heats up more slowly.

If you believe what the site says, these fuel suppliers are "blessed" by many automotive manufacturers.

My neighbor's family ran a fuel distribution service. All the gasoline came out of the same tanks. The difference was that each brand of gas was specified to have a particular additive package added to the fuel as it was pumped into the tanker truck. My neighbor said that, for instance, ARCO used a minimum package; Union 76 used a full package.

I've used Union 76 in all my fuel-injected cars, and have never had a clogged injector. I never use any cleaning additives (Techron, etc). Go figure.

CA uses 10% ethanol as an oxygenator, to control emissions. That concentration is safe for every car currently on the road. E85 requires fuel system materials that is designed for that concentration. Think flex fuel vehicle.
Ed in San Jose. BMW CCA member since 1987 (Nr. 62319). Golden Gate Chapter. '97 540i 6 speed. Build Date 3/97. Aspensilber over Aubergine leather.

I have used Costco premium fuel, no issues.......

I will put a bottle of Techron fuel treatment in on occasion, but not sure if that helps.
2002 540 6 speed, Steel Blue/Black interior, totally loaded with every option, and now with built in Stealth One/Valentine 1. 18" Staggared Privat wheels. I am loving the power again!

All true ...

Takes longer to warm up and the incoming air charge is always going to be cold resulting in richer mixture. The cats take a bit longer to fire up and do their magic, as determined by the O2 sensors. All leading to lower mileage.

So maybe the combination of E10 and winter conditions is giving me the reduced mileage. It used to run from 29.5 summer to 27.5 winter. Now more like 28.7 and 27, probably just due to the reduced thermal efficiency of E10. Thank God I don't have to endure E85.

Re: Top Tier Gasoline...

The best gas is the freshest and cheapest. Buy from a high volume station. 91 at least, 94 when I can get it. Local no-name has 94 for same as 91. I've been working on engines for my entire adult life. I've never seen evidence of a problem directly related to fuel deposits. Most of the engines I've seen that had any crud on the valves had bad valve seals or were driven very gently. Driving your BMW like it was intended to be driven will keep everything nice and clean. RT

Our cars may not digest E10, either

The tech advice author for "Roundel," Mike Miller, wrote a few months ago that an increasing number of recent BMWs have in-tank fuel pump failures. This may be due to ethanol. I always look for 100 percent gasoline, but it is impossible to find in some towns.

The owner's manual for my 1981 320i specifically warns to not use gasohol. Some of you, ahem, mature drivers may recall that we tried this alcohol BS 30 years ago. Back then it was methanol. I can't recall what the feed stock was, but it was not corn.

wonder if european gas we use over here is any

different from all the North American petrols you guys use? I use Total 98 (don't let the number 98 confuse you, iirc, the 98 here is equiv to the 93 over on your side). Still, I wonder if our petrol is formulated of any significant difference that it might affect the car either short and/or long term in some way---in a positive and/or negative way?

My '96 528i seems to like the Total 98 here, as it idles, accelerates, and runs overall quite well. But concerning gas mileage, around town and city driving, my old girl loves to drink the gas. At times, I seem to get worse town/city gas mileage than many of you V8 owners----if the numbers from you light-footed, granny driving V8 bitties are to be believed (haha). And, yes, before you grannies squak & wheeze, around town/city I am mostly in sport-mode on my automatic, so that might be why I get the same mileage as you V8 owners. Still, let the dogs loose more often, for crying out loud!!

But, that said, on the autobahn, in non-sport mode with the 5-spd overdrive on my 2.86 diff (which means I have very few dogs to let loose, lol), I have gotten, while cruising between 110-140kmph, between 800-900kms on one tank of petrol. I think that is pretty awesome.

A: Amoco Ultimate premium fuels exceed Top Tier requirements with respect to its detergent additive treatment. BP believes that consumer interests are best served when the automotive and oil industries work cooperatively to determine the optimal mix of vehicle hardware and fuel standards.